(OPEN):WITH THE HOLIDAYS HERE, MANY CONSUMERS ARE ENGAGING IN RISKY BEHAVIORS THAT COULD ALLOW THEM TO BE VICTIMIZED BY CON-ARTISTS.
JAMIE HARDING--OF "A-A-R-P ALABAMA"--OFFERS THESE TIPS...

(HARDING):"ADS, E-MAILS, AND SOCIAL-MEDIA POSTS ABOUT IMPOSSIBLY GOOD DEALS COULD BE
SCAMS--AND SHOULD IMMEDIATELY SEND UP A RED FLAG. WHEN SHOPPING ONLINE, REMEMBER THAT
YOU'RE BETTER-PROTECTED WHEN USING A CREDIT-CARD--INSTEAD OF A DEBIT-CARD.
AND, IF GIFT-CARDS ARE ON YOUR LIST, PURCHASE THEM DIRECTLY FROM A STORE-CLERK, OR BUY THEM ONLINE, INSTEAD OF FROM A
KIOSK--TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN COMPROMISED, BY THIEVES. YOU SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
'PHISHING' E-MAILS THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY ABOUT PACKAGE-DELIVERIES--BUT ARE REALLY AN ATTEMPT TO STEAL YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.
FINALLY, BEFORE GIVING TO A CHARITY, BE CAUTIOUS OF UNSOLICITED
REQUESTS--AND ALWAYS VERIFY THAT THE CHARITY IS LEGITIMATE--TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR MONEY IS GOING TO REALLY BE USED FOR GOOD."